Biography
My name is Jon Shaut. I have been teaching for 17 years. Currently, I teach IB HL Biology, Regents Biology, and Study of North American Wildlife at Corning-Painted Post West High Schoo. We are a school of about 900 students in a rural/suburban setting. Next year, however, our two high schools will be merging so we will have about 1800 students in grades 9-12. The IB HL Biology course is taught over two years and is a higher level (HL) course of study. The Wildlife course is an elective which focuses not only on wildlife, but their interactions with one another and humans. It also includes human impact on the environment.
I grew up in Painted Post and graduated from West High School in 1991. After earning my Bachelor’s degree in Biology at SUNY Cortland, I returned to teach at my alma mater. I earned my Master’s degree at Mansfield University of Pennsylvania, I spent 6 ½ years in the Army serving as a Cavalry Scout in a Light Cavalry unit and discharged as a Staff Sergeant in 2004.
I live in Painted Post, NY with my lovely wife, Bobbi, two beautiful and talented daughters, Erin and Laurel, and big block-headed yellow lab named Samson. I am an avid outdoorsman. I enjoy backpacking and am currently working on a summiting the 46 High Peaks in the Adirondacks. As a family, we enjoy kayaking, boating fishing, and camping. I am also a runner, and am currently training for the Wineglass Marathon in October.
After learning and teaching, and also having my children attend the Corning-Painted Post school District, I feel highly invested in my community. I want to provide my students with a high quality education and a feeling of responsibility as both local and global citizens. For years I have tried to impress upon my students the importance of awareness of our actions and their impact on the environment. After participation in the Grassroots program, I hope to develop a sustainability course for our new high school. Incorporated would be the concepts of alternative energy, green practices in construction, our relationship to food, and other relevant topics.